System of and machine for fabricating basket webs



Sept. 19, 1950 J. o. FARMER ETAL v2,522,571

SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet l r to INVENTOR. JAMES o. FARMER ROBERT c. CARROLL BY CLAUDE TILLERY 2% TORNEYS ep 1950 J. Q-FARMER Em 2,522,511

SYSTEM OF AND-MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEB'S Filed Aug. 7, 1946 1o Sheets-Sheet 2 l5 o o /6 INVENTOR. JAMES o. FARMER ROBERT c. CARROLL BY CLAUDE TILLERY' TORNEYS J. o. FARMER ETAL I 2,522,571

Sept. 19, 1-950 SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAMES o. FARMER ROBERT C. CARROLL CLAUDE TILLERY TTOR NE Ys Sept. 19, 1950 I J. o. FARMER- a-rm.

- SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 10 shets-sheet 4 lN-VENTOR. JAMES o ARMER ROBERT c. ARROLL LAUDE. TILLERY BY c Sept, 19, 1950 J. o. FARMER ETAL SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jab-7,032 I INVENTOR. JAMES o. FARMER ROBERT CARROLL CLAUDE TILLERY Sgpt. 19, 1950 J. O.'FARMER ETAL 1 SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet s i 5 1 L 4 I I 7 II 'I'E- m a 6716 s g5 6/ I I 1N VEN TOR. JAMES o. FARMER ROBERT c. CARROLL CLAUDE TILLERY- TTI'ORNEYYS Sept. 19, 1950 J. o. FARMER ETAL SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS 1O Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 7, 1946 INVENTOR JAMES o. FARMER R ERT c CARROLL c uoe TILLERY kw v 10 Sheets-Sheet 8' BLOWER Q COMPRESSOR INVENTOR. JAMES o. FARMER ROBERT C. CARROLL CLAUDE J. o. FARMER ETAL SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 Sept 19, 1950 Tl BY LLERY 'r-ronnsvs l 1950 2 J. o. FARMER ETAL I 2,522,571

SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BASKET WEBS Filed Aug. 7, 1946 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 James O.Former Robert C. Carroll L'ZQQJZZ Claude Tillery IN V EN TORS Sept. 19, 1950 J. o. FARMER ETAL 2,522,571

I SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRICATING BA-SKET' WEBS Filed Aug. 7; 1946 7 1o Sheets-Sheet 10 domes O.Fc1rmer Robert C.Curro|| CloudeT'iHery INVENTORS Patented Sept. 19, 1950 SYSTEM OF AND MACHINE FOR FABRI- CATING BASKET WEBS James 0. Farmer, Dallas, Tex., Robert 0. Carroll, Wilmington, Calif., and Claude Tillery, Hope, Ark.

Application August 7, 1946, Serial No. 689,066

13 Claims. (01. 1-s.1)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in system of and machines for fabricating basket webs.

Heretofore, basket webs have been made largely by hand. Such a web is mad up of 'a fixed number, usually twenty for a bushel basket, of thin wooden slats approximately two inches to two and one-half inches wide and about onesixteenth of an inch thick, by approximately thirty-seven to thirty-eight inches long.

When twenty slats are utilized, the bottom five slats are arranged or fanned so as to have their center portions in vertical alinement and their outer ends directed radially at equal angles so as to form a ten-pointed star. The next five slats are similarly arranged and superimposed on the bottom five so that the radii of the second five slats quadrisect the angles between the radii of the first five. The third and fourth groups of five slats are similarly fanned and superposed above the lower slats with their radii trisect'ing the angles between the slats of the first and second groups, so that all twenty slats are equally spaced. After the slats are so arranged, they are" suitably fastened together, usually by stapling through the center'portion of the slats.

The finished articleis an intermediate product in the manufacture of baskets, and is known as a web. Up to the present time, these webs have been made almost entirely by hand with the'aid of a jig to position properly th slats, and, besides requiring considerable personnel, is a relatively slow process. A reasonably competent worker can make only about one a minute.

The present invention contemplates a machine for automatically making basket webs at the rate of five or six or more per minute; a machine which requires only one operator for several machines, so that a considerable saving in labor is effected.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved machine for fabricating basket webs, which is simple and efficient in its operation and requires very little attention on the part of the operator, and whichwill produce basket webs at a considerable rate.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for fabricating basket webs to which slats are fed from a magazine or hopper, the hopper being adapted to be refilled without interruption of the operation of the machine so that a continuous output is obtained.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved machine which automatically receives slats from a plurality of hoppers,

positions the slats in the desired arrangement,-

and secures them together to form a basket web.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro-- vide an improved basket web fabricating machine which is adaptable to make basket webs of different sizes and styles.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the machine taken upon the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine taken from the left-hand end thereof,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of one of the carrier arms,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the spreader fingers taken upon the line 6--5 of Fig. '7.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan view of one of the spreader fingers,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged isometric view of the carrier arm track,

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the stapling device,

Fig. 10 isan enlarged isometric view of the slat hoppers,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal, crosssectional view showing the driving arrangement for the spreader arms, the view being taken upon the line HIl of Fig. 14,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged isometric view of the upper end of the rear carrying arm, showing the actuating arrangement,

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the relation between the carrier arms and the spreader arms,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view showing the mounting of the spreader arms,

Fig. 15 is an enlarged, vertical view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one of the vacuum pick-up tubes,

Fig. 16 is an enlarged, horizontal, crosssectional view of the stapling table, the View being taken on the line l6-l6 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged side. elevation of the stapling table showing the ejector mechanism,

Fig. 18 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of the stapling table and the ejector mechanism taken upon the line l8-I8 of Fig. 17,

Fig. 19 is an enlarged plan view of the spreader arms showing them in a spread position,

Fig. 20 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 2ll-20 of Fig. 19,

Fig. 21 .is a schematic view showing the wiring diagram and 'the pneumatic diagram of the machine,

Fig. 22 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view taken upon the line 22-22 "of Fig. 11, and

Fig. 23 is an enlarged isometric view rofthe spreader arm mechanism showing the arms in a partially spread position. v

In the drawings, the numeral H'l "designates an elongate rectangular base having a pair of elongate side members I l formed of channel steel hr the like, joined at their ends by a pair of transverse end members [2. A plurality of transverse cross members l3 serve to brace the base It] and support elements carried thereby. A post it, formed of channel steel or o'f other suitable con-- struction, is rigidly secured to each corner --of said base and extends upwardly -theretrom several feet. A tubular sleeve is nested within :and secured to each of the corner posts M Joy-suitable U-bolts l t, and extend upwardly "-in close engagement with said posts 'to a point substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the latter. A' beam n substantially *equal in length to the side members H, '"is positioned parallel to and above each of said membersand has-its ends secured to the posts M. A short-leg t8 depends from the center of each beam and is secured 'to thecenter of the side *mem'ber 'ZH there'below. A stationary frame 19 is thus "provided for supporting the *v-ar'ious moving and fixed elements of the machine.

A vertically *movable carriage or frame is disposed above the base Ill, and formed of transverse tubular end-members 2'l ,-.substa-n'tially equal in length to the width 'of the base 1-0. The end members 2| "have a depending t-ubular leg 22 at either end, which legs telescope the sleeves P5 so asto support thelegs'in a verticalplane and allow vertical movement thereof. A plurality of elongate tubular headers 23 extend between *the end members '2! in 'a horizontal plane, and are connected thereinto by suitable pipe 'Ts 2-4 whereby communication is had between the bores of the members 2| and 23 and the legs 22. "The lower ends (not shown) of the legs 22 are suitably plugged so that the movable carriage 2i] constitutes an air-tight manifold.

. For moving the carriage 2'0 upwardly and downwardly-with respect to the stationary frame I9, apair of pneumatic cylinders 25 are provided. The cylinders are suitablysecured upon the cross members -l3 of the base "Ill below the plane of the beams H, and extend longitudinally of "the-basein opposite directions. Any desired arrangement of the cylinders maybe made, but'in'th'e form shown in the drawings, the cylinders are axially 'a-lined with the longitudinal center line of "the base so as to have their bottom ends adjacent and their piston rods 26 extending in opposite directions toward either end of the base. The cylindersmay be of any desirable or suitable construction or type, and hydraulic cylinders may be utilized, if

desired. A sheave 2.1 is suitably mounted upon the outer end of each of the piston rods.

A pair of sheaves 28 are journaled in a horizontal plane upon each of the end members 12, and spaced apart, one on each side of the center of said members. A'similar sheave 29is journaled *zf-rame, downwardly along the posts M and around .thelower she.ave..29, around one of the sheaves 12 .8 and the sheave 21 on the piston rod, back around the other of the sheaves 28, up around the :opposite sheave 12 9, over the upper sheave 30 -on theoppos'i te corner post, and downwardly and secured to the protecting pin 33 on the opposite leg .22 of the carriage 20. Longitudinal movement of the piston rod thus causes uniform movemento'feach end of the cable to raise and lower one end of the carriage. Since the cylinder, cable, and sheave arrangement ;is duplicated ,at each :end of the :machine, and :since the cylinders are powered from the same source of pneumatic pressure, uniform and steady :raising and lowering of the carriage :is :achieved.

For operating the pair of pneumatic cylinders 25., a tour-way pneumatic valve 34 is positioned upon the center cross .member 43 between the inner 'or bottom :ends of :the two acylinders. This valve may be of any usual and *d'esi-redconstruction and is of the .type adaptedto :be operated by a pair of .electrica-lsolenoids 35 and -35, "for rupward and downward movement respectively, "QT the :carriage 210.. A suitable source :of fluid :under pressure (shown schematically) is properly :connected 1130 "the valve 314 by axpipe Mi and the usual connections :36 between the valve and "the cylinders are 'made. The value may ".thus he :con trolled electricallyito :moveithe piston 'rods .26 in either direction, the :arrangement :of 'the valve and connections :being such :as to provide equal and zuniform'movementqof said piston rods "so that smooth raising .and lowering of *the carriage .211 is .assured. The electrical connection to the solenoids will be described hereinafter.

A plurality of hopp rs 231 are positioned :in spaced relation upon the beams H :and extend transversely of the machine so as 'to be :supported by :said :beams. The "hoppers are termed between thin box-like partitions :38 which are preferably hollow and of :sheet metal construction, and are provided :along either edge :01 one side with laterally extending 'fianges :39 which form a base for the partition and a .bottom tor the hoppers 'therebetween. The flanges 39 are equalin length to the width :of the frame dill and are one-half the width of the ho pers, so that abutting flanges of adjacent partitions space "the latter a proper distance apart to receive the usual basket slats S. The partitions are equal to or slightly greater -in length than the lengths of the ordinary slats so that the latter may be stacked within .the hoppers formed between the partitions to be .fed subsequently to the gathering mechanism. Oneend of the hoppers may be closed to provide .a stop against which slats may be stacked.

the illustration shown, twenty of these .hoppers are provided since the normal web .for a one-bushel basket :is :made upof twenty slats. 0bviously, for baskets requiring different numbers of s ats, different numbersof hoppers may be ,pro-

vided. :A box-like base member All is supported upon the beams =1] at the rearward end of the machine between the last hopper and the rear-' ward corner posts It.

One of the headers 23 of the carriage extends along the center line of the carriage, and. one is spaced to either side of this center header. As shown in Fig. 2, the side headers are spaced inwardly from the legs 22 and the sides of the carriage. Twenty suction tubes 4| depend vertically from each of the headers 23, the tubes on adjacent headers being alined in rows extending transversely of the carriage. The rowsof tubes are spaced along the headers so as tobe in vertical alinement with the hoppers, so that as the carriage is lowered, one transverse row of three suction tubes enters each of the hoppers 31, to contact the slats S stacked therein.

Since the heights of the stacks of slats within the hoppers will vary from time to time, each of the suction tubes 4! is made in two tubular sections which telescope. The upper section 42 carries external screw-threads 43 on its upper end which engages within a screw-threaded opening formed in the lower side of one of the headers 23. Thus, the bore 45 of the upper section is in communication with the bore of the header.

An internal annular col ar as is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, in the lower end of the bore 45 and a lower tube section ll has a s1iding fit therein. An external annular collar 48,

equal in diameter to the collar 46, is welded, or

otherwise secured, to the upper end cf the lower section, and has a sliding fit within the bore d5 above the collar 663. As will be seen from Fig. 15 of the drawings, the collars allow telescoping movements between the upper and lower sections, but prevent disengagement of the tubes.

The l wer end of the lower tube carries external screw-threads M which engage within the screw-threaded bore 5!! of an enlarged bushing 5|. The bushing formed with a; wrench head 52 on its upper end surrounding the bore 50, and external screw-threads 53. A suction head. 54 is provided at its upper end with a screw-threaded box 55 which engages the screw-threads 53. An axial bore 55 extends downwardly from the box 55, and is reduced at its lower end to form a beveled shoulder or valve seat 5'5. A- conical valve 53 rests upon the seat 57! and carries an axia ly depending finger 59 which projects downwardly through the reduced bore and projects from the lower end of the suction head.

F or creating a reduced pressure within the interior of the various elements of the carriage 20, including the headers and the suction tubes, a suitable air pump or fan (shown schematically) has its suction side connected through a suitable hose connection 68 to the right-hand endmember 2i. A suction is thus exerted through the headers 23 to each of the suction tubes to enable the latter to pick up slats from the hoppers.

The suction exerted i not sufficient to lift the valves '58 from their seats, or to teesoope the up per and lower section of the suction tubes. However, as the carriage 2c is lowered, the fingers 59 contact the slats and raise the valves from their seats. The heads 54 may then engage the slats and obtain a suction grip thereon so as to raise the uppermost slat when the carriage is raised. Each slat is securely held by one transverse row of three suction heads so that the slat cannot sag and is maintained in a, horizontal position. carriage after the heads have engaged the slats, serves to telescope the upper and lower sections of the suction tubes whereby the tubes adapt Continued downward movement of thethemselves to varying heights of slats in the hop-= pers.

As'the carriage is raised, each transverse row of suction tubes'carries one slat. The weight'of the slats and of the lower sections causes the.

tubes at the right-hand or rearward end thereof:

Each slat is thus positioned a short distance above the next rearward slatL.

A pair of double, carrier arm tracks ill are positioned at the upper ends of the corner posts It, one double track extending along each side of the stationary frame. The tracks are secured. to the inner sides of the posts, and extend from the right-hand posts, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the draw-'- to 'a point some distance beyond the lefthand posts. Each of dual tracks is provided with an upper rail 62 and a lower rail 6%, the rails being in vertical alinement and spaced apart one above the other. Each rail is formed of an elongate extruded or machined section, substantial y C shaped in cross-section and having an inwardly directed lip 64 (Fist. 8) along its outer edgefor the purpose of retaining within the rails the rollers to be described hereinafter. Transverse connectorsor ties 55 extend between the rails at either end thereof. and at intervals throughout the length of the rails. Suitable angular bracing members 66 extend between upper and lower ends of adiacent ties, so that a strong and rigid track structure. is provided.

A pluralit of carrier arms li'l have engagement" Each arm comprises in general, an elongate gath-- erer head 63, substantially equal in l ngth to the transverse distance between the two sets of tracks. Each of the heads 68 is in the form of a rec tangu ar tube having its forward side open as well as its ends, and provided. with a plurality of notches or cutaway portions fill in its upper surface, one of said portions being positioned or 10- cated at the center of the head and one near each end thereof in vertical alinement with the suction tubes 4| An arm or bracket It is sec red to each end of each of the gatherer heads 68 outwardly of the cutout portions, the arms being formed with an elongate vertical shank H and an arcuate lower section 12 to the lower end of which the head is secured. As wil be exp ained more fully hereinafter,'the length and curvature of the armssecured to each of the heads varies to some extent so as to allow the heads to nest one within the other.

,A pair of vertically spaced disk-like rollers 13 are securedto the shank H of each of the arms It, the rollers being pivotally secured to the arms and engaging within the upper and lower rails,

62 and 53 respectively. The provision of dual rails and double rollers on each bracket of the carrier arms prevents inclination of the arms with respect to the vertical. results in a very stable structure. The carrier-arms, of course. are

free to move longitudinally of the machine along the tracks, but are held against twisting in any direction.

For moving the carrier arms forwardly and.

7 at both sides of the frame at the rearward tor right-hand end of each of the tracks, and a pair of continuous flexible cables 77 extend around the sheaves 5M and if, one of said cables forming a continuous loop about the sheaves carried by one track, and the other iorming-a-similar loop about the opposite track. The sheaves T4- and .15 are mounted in horizonta1-ali-nementwith each other and so positioned that the upper strands of the cables 11 are disposed substantially midway :between the upper and lower rails of the tracks, while the lower lengths of the cables are disposed a short distance below the lower :rails.

.Anelect-ric :motor 18 having a suitable pulley 7.9 secured to its shaft mounted upon the base member ill at the rearward end of the frame 11-9. The uppermost pair of sheaves 75 at the :rearward and of the tracks iii are splined or otherwise suitably connected, to a transverse shaft :80 which extends between said sheaves at either side of the :machine. .An enlarged pulley .81 is suitably splined upon the shaft Bl! near its medial portion, and a continuous belt passes around the pulley BI and the pulley 19 carried by the electric motor 1:8. This motor is of the reversible type so-that the shaft 80 and the sheaves =16 may be driven in either direction to move the cables 11 in either direction.

The rearmost carrier arm '67 is provided at either :side with laterally extending cars 83, the ears being formed upon the shanks ll of the brackets 11] of said arms and positioned midway of therollers F528. .Each of the cars 83 provided with a central opening 184 and :a tubular sleeve '85 extends horizontally in both directions of each of these openings, the sleeves being formed separately of or integrallywith theears and in horizontal a'h'nemcnt with the holes or openings 84. 'Ilie sleeves "3:5 receive :the cables T! and are cnitmped, or rswaged, or otherwise suitably secured thereto, so that movement of the cables results in movement ofnthe rearmost arm along the tracks Bl. .A suitable turnbuckle 135 :may be connected into each of the cables :to allow adjustment of the cable tension.

Thus the electric motor 18 may be set in motion in a counter'clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, :to move the upper lengths of cable to the left and carry the rearmost carrier arm forwia'rdly toward the front portion of a machine; and the motor may be reversed to move this'arm toward the-rear of the machine.

As set out hereinberore, the carrier arms are of such lengths and curvatures as to allow the arms to nest one within the other. There are provided twenty of the carrier arms, one to each transverse row of suction tubes. The left-hand, or forward-most, carrier arm is of such length as to place its gatherer head 58 in'horizontal alinement with the bottom of the suc'tion'heads 54 of the forwardmostrow of suction tubes. And each succeeding carrier arm, moving toward the rear of the machine, is of such length as to place its gatherer head in similar alinement with the immediately forward row of suction tubes. Thus, the carrier arms are graduated in length in a fashion complementary to the graduations in length of the rows of suction tubes, and one gath erer head is positioned in horizontal a-linement with each row ofsuctionheads.

In addition, the arcuate lower sections 12 .of the carrier arm brackets ill, from the, front :to the rear of the machine, have progressively greater radii of curvature so that each arm'may move forwardly under the next forward arm, and

the entire set of carrier arms compactly created The increasing radius of curvature fromthetront to :the :rear of mhe machine, also causes the arcuate sections to :be progressively greater in length. whereby when the arms are arrested, the gatherer heads are :all disposed in a vertical column and in vertical alinement with one another, as shown in Fig. 13..

With this structure, slats may be picked up from the hoppers "and arranged in a Vertical column, ready for fanning or spreading into .a web. As the carriage 1210 is lowered and raised again, twenty slats are picked up by the suction tubm 41., and held in staizstep fashon in 'alinement'with the g-athener heads .68. The :motor .118 is then started to move :the cables Tl and the rearmost carrier arm El forwardly. As the .arm moves "in such fashion, the .slat held by the :rearmostrow of suction :tubes enters the open forward :side of the gatherer head 68 carried by the arm, the suction heads M of this row of suction tubes registering with the cutaway portions '69 of said gatherer head. Continued forward motion of :the arm slides the slat from the grip of the suction heads whereby the former is left lying free within the gatherer'head as shown 'iin'Fig. I3. Since the slat is greater in length than the gatherer head, the ends of the slat project through the open ends of the head.

a Contlnuing its forward motion, th rearmost arm engages the next forward arm and moves it forward to pick. up its slat in a similar manner from the next forward row of suction tubes. And so on, until all twenty carrier arms are .completely nested, each carrying a slat in its ga'therer head. The verticalcolumn of slats is thus moved toward the left or iorwal'd end of the machine to be received by a spreader mechanism to be described hereinafter.

It is pointed out, that as each row of suction tubes is relieved of its load of one slat, "thevalves 58 drop into engagement with the seats 51 to prevent dissipation of suction through the open lower ends or the suction tubes. Attention is also directed to the fact that, as each carrier arm moves forward, all the carrier arms and all the suction tubes between it and the forward end oil the machine are disposed at ahigher level, so'that there'no obstacle to such forward motion. Obviously, the arms may return to their original positions without encountering such obstacle.

For returning the carrier arms to their original spaced positions to pick up additional slats, the motor 78 is reversed so as to move the upper lengths of cable rearwardly to the right andmove the rearmost carrier arm toward the rear of the machine. Each of the carrier arms has a slotted link 86 pivoted to the lower end of its shank 71 above its arcuate section I2. The slot .81 ofeach link is equal in length to the difference in the distances between adjacent arms when normally spaced and when nested, and receives a laterally projecting pin '88 carried .by the shank of the next rearward carrier arm. The pivot points of the links are arranged in stairstep fashion from .the front to the rear of the group of carrier arms, each next rearward link being pivoted at a point a short distance below the horizontal plane in which the next forward link is pivoted, said dis tance being substantially equal to the width of one of the links. Thus, as shown in Fig. 13,-w'hen the arms are nested and the pins 88 are disposed within the forward portions of the slots 81, each link may remain in a horizontal position and yet clear "the rearward links.

thereof.

V As the cable carries the rearmost arm toward the rear of the machine, the pins 89 of each succeeding forward arm are moved to the rear portion of the slots 8'! so that the links function to space the arms properly and move them to their proper positions to receive additional slats.

The carrier arms and suction tubes thus cooperate to deliver vertical stacks of twenty slats each to the forward end of the machine. In this connection, it is pointed out that throughout this description the number of slats being handled at one time has been set at twenty for the purpose of clarity and because this. is the normal number of slats used in a one-bushel basket. However, any desired number or size of slats may be employed, and with the use of selected hoppers in the specific machine herein being described, smaller numbers of slats may be utilized. Obviously, the specific embodiment may be designed for a variety of purposes, for different numbers of slats and for difierent types of slats. The invention is not limited to any of these specific details.

A spreader unit 89 is positioned at the left-hand or forward end of the machine beneath the projecting forward ends of the tracks (H. The unit includes a rectangular, horizontal base plate 90 having a pair of laterally spaced, upstanding legs 9| secured thereto. Suitable, triangular braces 92 are pivoted at either side of the legs to strengthen the latter. A circular stapling table 93 which may bev of wooden or metallic structure, is supported upon the upper ends of the legs, the table being slightly less in diameter than the length of one of the gatherer heads 68.

A pair of short upstanding posts 94 are secured to the base plate 99, one adjacent each of the legs 9| and spaced therefrom the width of the braces 92. A horizontal brace 95 extends from the upper end of each .of the posts to the adjacent leg for steadying the posts, and a pair of vertically spaced supports 96 extend horizontally between the posts, being suitably secured thereto as by welding. A reversible electric motor 91 is mounted in a vertical position upon the supports 96 and has its shaft 98 directed upward-- ly. A horizontal bearing beam 99 extends transversely of the spreader unit between the legs 9I, the ends of the beam being secured to the latter. The beam is positioned slightly below the medial portion of the legs.

A flanged collar I90 is mounted upon the upper side of the bearing beam 99, being securedat the center of the beam by bolts WI. The collar is formed with an axial screw-threaded bore I02 which receives the screw-threaded lower end I93 of a vertical axle I04. The upper end of the axle is also screw-threaded and engages within a screw-threaded, flanged collar I95 secured'to the underside of the table 93 and in the center A bearin bushing I05 has a sliding fit on the axle I04, the bushing being formed with an external annular flang It? at its lowerend which engages and rests upon the upper end of the collar I09. A toothed sprocket wheel I08 is carried by the bushing I96, and is connected by a sprocket chain I09 with a smaller toothed sprocket wheel H0 splined, or otherwise secured to the motor shaft 98.

A plurality of bearing bushings III are disposed upon the axle I04 in superposed fashion, each resting on the bushing below, and have a sliding flt with the axle. The bushings are formed with wide annular flanges I I2 at their lower ends and relatively short upstanding necks H3 which-embrace the axle. With exception of the uppermost bushing which is welded or otherwise seoured to the axle I04, the bushings therebelow are free to rotate with respect to each other, to the axle, and. to the lowermost bushing I96, the entire column of. bushings HI resting upon the upper end of said lower bushing. In this instance, twenty bushings have been shown,- however, as pointed out herelnbeiore, the invention is not to be limited to aspeclfic number.

A spreader arm H4 is disposed upon each of the bushings II I, and also a similar arm disposed upon the lower bushing Iuii, the latter arm Dlng secured to the sprocket I08 by suitable bolts 5 so as to revolve therewith. Each arm includes an elongate horizontal lower section or bar II6 which is positioned beneath the table 53 and carries at its center an enlarged or widened section Ill. Openings Ila, which are onset with respect to the longitudinal axes of the bars I I6, are formed in the emarged sections to receive the necks N3. of the bushings III, said necks being substantially equal in height to the thickness ofthe bars H6. The offset openings cause the arms to revolve in an eccentric about the axle, the function of which mounting being eX- plained herelnal'ter.

The bars are graduated in length as shown in Figs. 4, l9 and 22, the uppermost bar being slightly greater in length than the diameter or the table at. Each bar is Iormed with an upright In] at either end, the uprights extending upwardly above the stapling table. Therefore, each next lower bar beginning with the uppermost bar, is enough longer than the next bar above to allow the uprights of the lower bar to clear and be positioned outwardly in a radial direction or the uprights of said next upper bar, as shown in Fig. 23. l'hus, when the arms are nested, as shown in Fig. 1, the uprights are in a horizontal row.

The uprights are graduated in length, the uppermost bar having the shortest uprights, and the lowest bar having the longest. The upper end of each bar is curved inwardly, the radii of curvature being such as to allow the arms to pivot or revolve about the axle lll i without coming in contact with adjacent arms. The curved upper sections of the arms are also graduated in length, whereby, when the arms are nested the inner ends thereof are in vertical alinement with each other, and in horizontal alinement with thegatherer heads 68 of the carrier arms 67. Thus, each bar carries two uprights which extend upwardly above the stapling table and curve inwardly. The incurving ends of each pair of uprights are in horizontal alinement with each other and with the gatherer head of one of the carrier arms.

A clip or gripper I29 is secured to the upper extremity of each of the uprights H9. The grippers are directed laterally of the uprights so as to project toward the frame I9 when the spreader arms are nested as in Figs. 1 and 4. Since the upper ends of the uprights are in vertical alinement, the grippers are also in vertical alinement.

Each gripper comprises a flat, resilient, metallic strap I2I bent in a U-shaped section having unequal legs, so as to engage the top, bottom and one side of the upright, being secured thereto by suitable means such as rivets I22. The legs project laterally of the upright to provide gripper fingers I23, and the longer'leg is bent downwardly and doubled back to form a resilient clip or latch I24 which is disposed between the fingers. A basket slat may thus enter the gripper edgewise by passing between the fingers of'thc latter; The: gripper are: relatively sma1l ,..andonly: one edge of: theslat enters as. shown in: Figelfi. However,.theislatlis-gripped andisecurely. he'lriLbetween the latch I24 and the lower: finger With this structure, as one set ortwenty' slats i's movedtothe front of: the machine: by the carrier arms. as described-- herein-before. provision. is made: for receiving. and removing the slats fromthe: carrier arms by thesprea'der arms; As the carrier arm's move forwardly tothe for-ward ends oi the tracks 6b,. the end portions ot the slats projecting throughthe-open ends of the gatherer heads; enterand are. engaged by the: grippers. I Upon reversal o-fither motor 18,. the. carrier. armsaG-"I are: allowed. to move: rearwardly. as will be ermlained As the carrier arms move rear.- wardly; the: slats; are held; by the grippers and thus removed v from. within the. gatherer heads; Ini this-; manner, the vertical. column. of. slats: is. transferred from. the carrier arms which. are separable. laterally; to; the spreader armswhich aresepara'ble rotationally...

As: pointed: out. hereinbefore. the openings: H 8 inithea bars. II-6 are offset These. openings are offset from: the: spreaden arms M4. in the same direction as the grippers so asto. be in. vertical alinement with-the geometric centers of. the slats heldaby the: grippers: Thurs, asithespreader. arms revolve, the. slats held thereby are rotated about their own. geometric centers and misalining of the slats is prevented. 7

To illustrate the spreading or. ianning ofthe slats'into-the positions requiredfor a. basketiweb, thespreaderi arms will: be; assigned the; numbers Ia to: 20a; the lowermost arm which is driven by the. sprocket wheels I68,v being. Ia; and; the succeeding, arms progressing; upwardly being numbered in rotation... the top arm being: 20a. It: is pointed. out thatrthe. lowest arm Ialre'ceive's the: uppermost slat carried by the carrier arms due. to the factthat. the uprights I:I9io'f. saidlow estiarm are thelongest; While: the: top spreader arm' receives thelowest-slat imthevertical stack deliver-ed the carrier arms.

Asset outin the: preamblehereto,. the: slats are spread in groups of. five. each group: being offset from the: groups below so. that the entire twenty slats are evenly spaced-.- Thisimeans there must be. approximately 36 degreesibetweenadjm centslats of one group: and; 9 degrees. between adjacent slats. in thecompleted web. The bar H6, shown. in. Fig. 23;,01 the lowest ar-m Ia has secured. thereto. at one end; a laterally project ing. strap I25 having. an upwardly; directede hook I26 formed at its outer extremity. Asishowni in Fig. 19,. the strap is disposed at an angle with respect to the: barand is adapted to engage its book I26 with the bar II6:of. the: spreader arm 2a immediatelyabove. The. strap. is ofsuch lengthv as to space arms Ia and 2a- 36: degrees apart, so'that as arm Ia-'is=revolved themotor 91,. the arm- 2a is revolved. therewith; but trails by 36 degrees, Similarly, arm.2a' carries'astrap I21- secured to its bar II6,.said strap-having a hook I23 for engaging the bar ofthearm-3w and revolving said arm with the arms. Ia-- and. 2a but 36-degrees. behind arm 2a.- Arms lwandfiaare similarly revolved by straps I29 and I30 carried by the arms 3a and 4a respectively, sorthat the lower five arms and theslats'carried thereby, are spread into a ten-pointedv stark each arm lagging 36 degrees behind the next lower arm.- Thisirota=- tion: is accomplished. bymotiv'e power supplied to arm In only.

1 2 The next five-arms Goa-through I002 are adapted to be spread through 360 degrees by similar straps I-3I carried by the: arms 6w through while the upper: two groups: of. five arms each; v IIa through. I5a;. and. I6athrough 23a, carry straps I32 and I33 respectively, for spreading: these latter groups: through 360: degrees. Since arm In. is the only powereda arm,. means must be furnished for transmitting power tothe arms- 2 6a, Ila, and I-Iia. to allow these arms to: revolve the upper three groups of. arms. Such means is provided by suitableibrackets I34; one of is shown in Fig. 20. Each bracket has-a vertical shank. I30 formed with a laterally extending at its lower end. The ear engages beneath the bar. H6 upon which the bracket is: carried and is welded or otherwise secured there' to. An arm I32 extends. laterally of: the shame at its upper end; the' shank: being; of such: length as to position. the arm between: the fourth and fifthbars above the bar; which carries the brack et. An upstanding lip 1:33. is. provided on the outer end of the arm I32 so as to engage the next upper, or. fifth bar I-I'E; One: of the brackets I34 is carried by each of the arms Ia, Bayand I'I-a; andv each bracket engages: thene'xtarm in this series, the bracket on" arm .I-l a; engaging; arm I 6a; The arms I32 of the.bracketsareofisuch length asto space the arms. at 9 degree intervals;-- In this manner, movement of the arm m fans or spreads the: entire twenty arms andv the slats carried thereby into an evenly spacedcircular fan Or. web. The: securing. of: the" arm 2 3a to'the axle' I94 prevents. overtr'avcl ofi the otherLarms and insuring spreading, of the slats into: an1evenly-spaced, properly positioned web.

Followingremoval-ofi the slats irom the'spre'ad' er arms, an: operation. to be? described herein after, the arms must be returned to a nested position to receive another setof. slats from the: carrier arms To accomplish this, an upright rod I35 is welded,. or otherwise; secured; tov one: edgeof the horizontal bar N6: of. the arm Ia; The rod, I35 is. secured near: the. center 011 the arm-. on the leading, edge thereof as said arm moves: into aspread position... and: extende upwardly to a point above the bar thi of the top arm 29a: and below the stapling table- 93: Being on the leading edge of arm: la, the rod is im operative as the. arms revolveainto a spread position. However, when the motor. 93: is. reversed so asto revolve thearmx Ia in the oppositedirection, the rod: engages thebars: II 6 01 each of the armsand revolves them into: anl-alined} nested position, as's-hown in Figs. 1 and 4 For stapling: or fastening the tanned: web of slats together, a stapler. unit: I36 is provided; The stapler unit is positioned. adjacent and" to one side of the stapling: tables 93 asshown in Fig. 2, andincludes an. upright cylinder: I3 1 mounted upon 'a suitable'ba'se I381 An elongate piston- I39 is reciprocal within the cylinder and carries ahead I40 atv its: upper." ends An arm MI; formed of pipe. or other? suitable material} extendslaterall'y of the head M0 to a point vertical alinement with thecenter of the stapling table 93, and a; stapler M2 depends therefrom on" an elongate shank I431 Thepiston I 39" is normally raised so that the" stapler. does not obstruct the carrier arm's or the spreader arms.

The stapler may beof' any desirable or suitable type or construction; and is adapted to" set one ormore staples-when actuated. It maybe o'perfable through downward motion or" contact, or may-be actuated by'othermeans-such as el'c 13 trical or fluid impulse. Other means may be utilized to secure the slats together, the inven tion not being limited to stapling. This mode of fastening is illustrated and described since it is the most widely used.

A pneumatic cylinder I44 is secured to the base I38, and extends upwardly therefrom contiguous to the cylinder I31. A lug I45 projects laterally of the head I46 on the opposite side from the arm MI, and the piston rod I46 of the pneumatic cylinder is formed with an eye I41 at its upper end which receives the lug. Movement of the piston rod is thus transmitted to the piston I39 and the stapler I42. Suitable pipes I48 are connected from the pneumatic cylinder I44 to the valve 34 for actuating the former. It is pointed out, that hydraulic or other means may be utilized for movement of the stapler.

' In the operation of the stapler unit, the pneumatic cylinder is actuated at the same time as the pneumatic cylinders 25, so that the stapler I42 moves downwardly with the carriage 20. As the stapler contacts the basket slats, spread in a. fan by the spreader arms, the slats are bowed so as to be pulled longitudinally from the grippers I28. The pull thus exerted is longitudinal of the slats so that the stresses incurred and the abrasive action caused by the fingers I23, is directed along the grain of the slats and not across the grain. Thus, damage to the slats is prevented.

The slats are pressed downwardly in this manner, being removed from the spreader arms at the same time, into a compact mass between the stapler and the stapling table 93. At the bottom of its stroke, the stapler is actuated to set a plurality of staples (not shown) in the web of slats, thereby securely fastening the latter into a unit. The stapler is then raised-into an inoperative position, leaving the finished web lying on the stapling table.

An ejector mechanism I58 for removing the finished web from the stapling table is shown in Figs. 16, 1'1 and 18. A shallow tray II having lateral flanges I52 is secured to the underside of the stapling table by said flanges, said tray being positioned slightly off center with respect to the table. The tray runs from front to rear of the table and supports an ejector slide I53. The

slide is in the form of a shallow box having its 1 top and rearward side open and being provided with a pair of upstanding, hooked, ejector fingers I54. The fingers are formed integrally with the slide, and one is disposed at either side of the latter and at the rearward end thereof. A pair of elongate slots I55 are provided in the stapling table and the ejector fingers project upwardly a short distance therethrough so as to have their upper ends disposed above the upper surface of the table. A coiled spring I56 has one end secured to a bracket I51 carried on the underside of the table, and the other engaging an eye I58 mounted on the forward side of the ejector slide, so that said sprin constantly urges the slide forwardly within the tray I5I. An elongate slot I59 formed in the slide receives the spreader arm axle I94 and allows the slide to reciprocate without contacting said axle.

' A stub axle 568 having a roller ISI journalled at its lower end, is secured to the ejector slide i533 and depends vertically therefrom. An elongate slot I62 is provided in the tray to receive the axle which is of such length as to support the roller I6I in horizontal alinement with the bar II6 of the spreader arm I9a.. A

latch I63 is pivoted to the underside of the tray" and adapted to engage the stub axle when the slide is in its rearmost position. A coiled spring IE4 is connected to the latch so as to urge the latter into latching position, while a suitable electrical solenoid I65 is so connected to the latch as to swing it to an unlatching position, when actuated.

The ejector is cocked by the revolving of the spreader arms into a spread position. The bar II6 of arm I9a, as the arm revolves, engages the roller IBI and forces the ejector slide rearwardly against the tension of the spring I 56 until the latch I83 is engaged by the axle I68. At this point, the arm is at the end of its revolving movement, but the ejector slide is held by the latch. Afterthe web has been stapled and the spreader arms returned to their nested position, the sole noid 465 is energized, releasing the latch and allowing the spring I56 to snap the ejector slide forwardly under considerable impetus. As this occurs, the ejector fingers engage the finished basket web lying on the stapling table, and impart considerable momentum thereto so that the mat is forceably projected laterally from the table. A suitable receptacle (not shown) or conveyor (not shown) may be provided to receive the projected web.

To make provision for automatic and continuous operaticn of the machine, a plurality of control switches and relays are utilized. The interrelation of this electrical system and the pneumatic system is shown in Fig. 21 of the drawings.

Power is supplied to the machine through a pair of electric busses or mains I18, controlled by a double-pole master switch I1I. Power for the blower motor I12 and the compressor motor I13 is taken directly from said mains. The blower motor drives the air blower I13 which provides a reduced pressure within the suction tubes 4| and the compressor motor drives an air compressor or hydraulic pump I14 to furnish fluid under pressure for actuation of the pneumatic cylinders 25 and I44.

The carrier arm drive motor 18 has the common end I15 of its double field winding connected to one of the mains. The opposite terminal of the motors forward field coils I15 is connected to one contact of a double contact, normally open relay A. The opposite terminal of the motor reverse field coils I11 is connected to one contact of a double contact, normally open relay B. Both relays A and B are of the self-energizing type, one contact being connected to the coil of each relay, the opposite ends of the coils being connected through normally closed, double-throw switches I18 and I19 respectively, to one main, and the armatures of the relays being connected to the other main. The coil of relay A has the terminal which is connected to one contact, also connected through a normally-opeim'momentary contact switch I to the same main to which the armature of relay A is connected. The 'coil of relay B has its similar terminal connected through a pair of open contacts I18 to the same main, the contacts I 18 being a part of switch I 18 and adapted to be closed by the opening of said switch.

The reversible motor 91 for the spreader arms also has a double field winding, one coil for nestin the arms being designated by the numeral I8I, and the other reversing coil, for spreading the arms, by the numeral I82. The common terminal I83 of the coils are connected to the same main as terminal H5. The opposite of the nesting coil. IB:I. is connected through a normally closed, momentary contact switch IBd to the forward coil of. motor I8, while the. spreading coil r82 is connected through a similar switch liidto the reverse. coil I'IL'I of said motor.

The normally open contacts I556 of switch I79 are connected between one main and one terminal of the coil or" a third relay and to onev normally open ccntact. thereof, the opposite terminal of the coil bein connected through a normally-closed, momentary contact switch I81 to the. other main. The relay C has three contacts, two normally open and one normally closed. The other normally open contact is connected to one side of the lowering solenoid 35" which controls in pat the valve; 3%. and the pneumatic cylinders 25. The normally closed contact of the. relay is connected to one side of the raising solenoid 35, and the. common terminal I88 between the two solenoids is connected to the same main as switch 181. The armature of relay C is connected through a manual start-stop switch I89 to the, other main.

Relays A, Band C as wellv as the blower and compressor may be mounted in any convenient location on or near the machine, and hence are shown only in the schematic diagram in Fig. 20. However, the various switches, with the exception of the master switch I"! I and the start-stop switch I89, depend for operation on various moving parts of the machine, andv are located in the drawings.

. Switch I13 is mounted upon of one of the upper rails 82 and is adapted to be engaged by an upstanding lug use formed on the upper end of one of the shanks 'II of the forwardmost carrier arm It. The switch is so positioned as to be engaged when the carrier arms have reached their most forward position. As part of this structure, a coiled spring I9I is connected between a point on the forwardmost carrier arm midway of the rails 62 and 63 and one of the rearward ties 55 to retract the arms when the motor 73 is reversed, and provide clearance for the revolving of the spreader arms. If desired, a similar spring (not shown) may be connected to the opposite shank of this arm.

Switch I79 is mounted at the rear of the same rail 62 and adapted to be engaged by an upstanding lug I92 provided for this purpose upon the upper end of the rearmost carrier arm. This switch is actuated when the carrier arms reach their spaced positions. The switch I80 is carried at the top of one corner post I l and engaged by a pin I93 projecting from the leg 22 of the frame 20 at that corner, while the switch I81 is mounted at the top of the sleeve I5 near the center of the corner post to be operated by the pin I93 when the carriage 20 is in a lowered position.

The switches I8 and IE5 are secured to one leg ill of the spreader unit and face laterally in opposite directions. Switch I84 is the upper switch and is engaged by the bar IIB of. one of the spreader arms when the arms are nested. Switch I85 projects from the opposite side of the leg SI and is engaged by--the bar N6 of the bottom spreader arm when the arms are fully spread or fanned.

i In the operation of the machine, the master switch III is closed which places electric power on the mains I'IU and starts the motors I12 and IE3, thereby providing a suction within the headers 23 and thesuction tubes-4|. and fluid the forward end 16.: pressure to the pneumatic cylinders. 'Ehe'se" motors operate continuously;v Next, the. start stop switch I83; is closed, energizing the solenoid 3.5 to operate the pneumatic. cylinders 25. and raise the carriage 28.4 .At the. same; time, thepneumatic. cylinder MA is actuated to. raise the stapier I52. As. the irame; reaches; its.- upper position, the pin I93. operates the switch tell to energize. the coil of the relay A and. close. the contacts Once the; relayis, closed, the circuit through the switch I18, the relay coil and the armature holds it closed. This; closes the cir-a cut-t to the iorward coil"v ll lfi of carrier motor: t8? and to the nesting coil I81 ofthe spreader motor 9 1- to. move the, carrier; arms: forwardly topiol: up. slats from the suction tubes, and; to revolve the spreader arms to a nested position... When the spreaderv arms are nestedswitch. ltd: is opened. breakina the circuit. to; the: motor 9:? and stopping the. latter- The carrier arms upon reaching their forward-i most. point. urea the slats; they carry into one easement with the; grippers till. oi the spreader arms. as set out hereinbefore, and at. the same time, thelost I90: engage the-switch I is, opening the circuit through the coil of the relay A and allowing the. relay to; open. and s op. the carrier motor 13,, At. the. same; time contacts Us? the Switch; 111:8 are closed. o; energize. relay 3:. As soon as relay B closes, it is, self-energizing. through the armature, the relay coil, and: switch [.1 9. Closing of, thev latter relay closesthecircuit to the spreadin coil ater the spre d mo or to fani-or spread. the: carrier armsand. closeswitch HM, and to the reversing, coil Iii-TI; of the carrier. motor to retract. the carrierarms into a spaced position. Atthispoint, the: spring; I91 functions to speed. said retraction, and desired, a time delay mechanism. (not shown); may be proyided to delay revolving of, the. spreader arms until. such time as the carrier arms have clearedr As; the carrier arms reverse, switch. I18. released to its normally closed position.

Upon the spreader; reaching a spread position, the lowest spreader contacts and opens the switch I stopping the spreader motor,v and when the. carrier arms. have. reached their spaced position, the. lug. I92. engages the switch ill-3;, breaking the circuit through the coil of the relay B to open. the latter and stop the carrier motor. As the switch. m opens, it. closes the coil circuit of relay C,. closing the latter relay. This opens the circuit. to. the raising. solenoid 3,5 and closes. the circuit. to the lowering solenoid. 35 which operates the valve 34. to actuate the cylinders. 25 and I44, and lower the. carriage 20 so that the suction tubes may pick up another set of slats. At the same time the stapler I42 is. lowered to fasten the spread slats, held by the spreader arms, into a completed web. As the frame reaches its lower position, the pin I93 engages and opensthe switch I81, thus breaking. the coil circuit to relay C and allowing. the relay to open. The circuit to solenoid 35. is thereby openedand the circuit to solenoid 3.5 closed to actuate the valve 34 and cause. the cylinders 25 and. IM to function to raise thecarriage and the stapler I42. As the carriage reaches its upper position, the pin I93 again. engages and closes the switch IBU, again energizing the relay A and causing the sequence of operation. to. repeat. It is pointed out, that the solenoid 65 of the ejector unit: I50 may be connected into the system at any suitable point. As shown in Fig. 21, the switch I84 is provided with normally open contacts I94 adapted to be closed when the switch is opened to stop the spreader motor 91 as the spreader arms are returned to their nested position. The solenoid IE is connected in series with the contacts I94 across the two mains I10, so that as the carrier arms meet, the ejector is released to remove the finished basket web from the stapling table. As the arms again spread, the solenoid I65 is de-energized to allow the ejector to be cooked.

Thus, complete and continuous automatic operation of the machine is provided. No attention is required after starting except to fill the hoppers 31 with slats from time to time. These hoppers will normally hold about thirty minutes supply of slats, so that one operator can keep several machines running at one time.

The electric motors utilized are preferably magnetic-braked, and provision is made in the various switches to permit slight overrunning of the motors.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A basket web fabricating machine including, a supporting frame, a plurality of hoppers carried by the frame adapted to contain basket slats, a conveyor movable over the hoppers having stepped gatherers, means for elevating slats from the hoppers into the paths of the gatherers, means for moving the conveyor to cause the gatherers to engage and convey the slats carried by the elevating means, a receiver at one end of the conveyor for collecting the slats from the gatherers, and means for spreading the receiver to fan the collected slats into a basket web.

2. In combination with means for gathering a plurality of basket slats, a spreader unit including, a support, an upright axle carried by the support, a plurality of rotatable members mounted on the axle each having means for receiving and holding a slat from the gathering means, means for rotating one of said members, co-acting means carried by certain of the rotatable members for engaging other of the members and responsive to the movement of one of said members to rotate the remaining members and spread the members into spaced radial relationship whereby the slats carried by the members are spread into a web, and a stapler coacting with the spreader unit.

3. A basket web fabricating machine including, a supporting frame, a movable frame carried by the supporting frame, a horizontal conveyor carried by the supporting frame, gatherers depending from the conveyor in stepped order, a plurality of suction heads carried by the movable frame and depending therefrom in stepped order in alinement with the gatherers, the suction heads being movable vertically of the gatherers and the gatherers horizontally of the suction heads, slat containing hoppers below the gatherers in alinement with the suction heads, a spreader unit at one end of the conveyor having means for receiving and holding slats from the gatherers and spreading the slats into a basket web, and a support for the spreader unit.

4. A basket web fabricating machine including, a supporting frame, a movable frame carried by the supporting frame, a horizontal conveyor carried by the supporting frame, gatherers depending from the conveyor in stepped order, a plurality of suction tubes formed of telescoping sections depending from the movable frame in stepped order, slat containing hoppers carried by the supporting frame below the gatherers in alinement with the suction tubes, the movable frame being adapted to be lowered so as to lower the suction tubes into the hoppers to pick up basket slats, the tubes being adapted to telescope in accordance with the height of the slats in the hoppers, valve means on the lower end of each of the tubes for preventing loss of suction when the tubes are not engaging a slat, gatherer heads on the gatherers in alinement with the lower ends of the suction tubes for receiving slats from the suction tubes when the gatherers are moved horizontally by the conveyor, a spreader unit at one end of the conveyor having means for receiving and holding slats from the gatherers and spreading the slats into a basket web, and a support for the spreader unit.

5. The combination with means for gathering a plurality of basket slats including, a supporting frame, a movable frame carried by the supporting frame, a horizontal conveyor carried by the supporting frame, gatherers depending from the conveyor in stepped order, a plurality of suction tubes formed of telescoping sections depending from the movable frame in stepped order, slat containing hoppers carried by the supporting frame below the gatherers in alinement with the suction tubes, the movable frame being adapted to be lowered so as to'lower the suction tubes into the hoppers to pick up basket slats, the tubes being adapted to telescope in accordance with the height of the slats in the hoppers, valve means on the lower end of each of the tubes for preventing loss of suction when the tubes are not engaging a slat, gatherer heads on the gatherers in horizontal alinement with the lower ends of the suction tubes for receiving slats from the suction tubes when the gatherers are moved horizontally by the conveyor, of a spreader unit at one end of the conveyor including, a support an upright axle carried by the support, a plurality of rotatable members mounted on the axle each having means for receiving and holding a slat from the gathering means, means for rotating one of said members, means carried by certain of the'members engaging other of the members and rotating the latter member with the former members in staggered relationship to spread the members into spaced angular relationship, whereby the slats carried by the members are fanned into a basket web and a stapler co-acting with the spreader unit.

6. A basket web fabricating machine including, a supporting frame, a plurality of hoppers carried by the frame adapted to receive stacks of basket slats, a conveyor carried by the frame and overlying the hoppers having means for picking up a slat from each hopper and conveying the picked up slats to one end of the frame, a plurality of slat-receiving supporting elements positioned at the end of the machine receiving the slats from the conveyor, means for rotating the supporting elements to rotate each slat to its proper Web position, and means for fastening the central portions of the properly, positioned slats together to form a basket web.

7. A basket web fabricating machine including, a supporting frame, means on the frame for supporting basket slats in parallel horizontal1ystepped order, a conveyor carried by the frame, gatherers on the conveyor horizontally stepped for receiving the slats from the supporting means, vertically alined rotatable members at one end of the conveyor for receiving the slats from the gatherers and supporting the slats in a vertical column, and means for rotating said members individually with their slats to fan the slats into a basket web.

8. A basket web fabricating machine including, a supporting frame, a conveyor carried by the frame, a plurality of successive hoppers disposed beneath the conveyor adapted to contain basket slats, aplurality of lifting elements carried by the frame spaced in vertical alinement with the hoppers to remove slats therefrom, gatherers on the conveyor alined with the lifting elements for successively removing slats from said elements and supporting them in super posed order, rotatable members at one end of the conveyor for receiving the slats from the gatherers and fanning the slats into a basket web, and a stapler for fastening the central portionsof the fanned slats together.

9. In combination with means forgathering and supporting a pluralit of basket slats, a receiver having a plurality of rotatable slat-receiving elements rotating in spaced parallel planes, and means for rotating said elements through diiferent angles to fan the slats into a basket web.

10. In combination with means for gathering and supporting a plurality of basket slats with their fiat sides parallel, a receiver having a plurality of rotatable slat-receiving elements in parallel arrangement to receive the parallel basket slats, said elements rotating in spaced parallel planes, and means for rotating said elements individually to fan the slats into a bas ket web.

11; In combination With means for gathering a plurality of basket slats, a spreader unit including, a support, an upright axle carried by the support, a plurality of rotatable members mounted on the axle each having means for receiving and holding a slat from the gathering means, means for rotating one of said members, means carried by certain of the members engaging others of the members and rotating the latter members with the former members in staggered relationship to spread the members into spaced angular relationship, whereby the 20 slats carried by the members are fanned into a basket web, and a stapler coacting with the spreader unit.

12. In combination with means for gathering a plurality of basket slats, a spreader unit includ ing, a support, an upright axle carried by the support, a plurality of rotatable members mounted on the axle each having means for receiving and holding a slat from the gathering means, means for rotating one of said members, means carried by certain of the members engaging other of the members after the former members are rotated through a predetermined degree to rotate the latter members therewith in staggered positions to spread all the members into spaced angular relationship, whereby the slats carried by the members are fanned into a basket web, and a stapler coacting with the spreader unit.

13. In combination with means for gathering a plurality of basket slats, a spreader unit including, a support, an upright axle carried by the support, a plurality of rotatable members mounted on the axle each having means for receiving and holding a slat from the gathering means, means for rotating one of said members, trailing hooks carried by certain of the members engaging other of the members after the former members are rotated through a predetermined degree to rotate the latter members therewith in staggered positions to spread all the members into spaced angular relationship, whereby the slats carried by the members are fanned into a basket web, and a stapler coacting with the spreader unit.

JAMES O. FARMER. ROBERT C. CARROLL. CLAUDE TILLERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

